Knitting machines

ABSTRACT

An improved needle selection mechanism for use on a circular knitting machine. The selection mechanism includes an elongated resiliently flexible selector member positioned within an elongated slot formed on the cylinder housing. The lower end of the selector member is fixedly mounted to the cylinder and the upper end of the selector member is disposed for moving an intermediate selector jack which coacts with a needle. The resilient selector member has a projection located intermediate its ends and positioned for pivotally supporting thereon an elongated selector jack which is disposed within the slot in close proximity to the selector member. The selector jack is retained adjacent its opposite ends by a pair of elastic ringlike springs which extend around the cylinder. The selector jack has teeth projecting sidewardly therefrom and disposed substantially throughout the complete length of the jack, which teeth are positioned for engagement by selected pattern cams, whereby the cams act on the selector jack and pivot same inwardly about one of the springs. This causes a corresponding pushing on the projection so that the selector member is resiliently moved, whereby the free end thereof causes a corresponding movement of the intermediate selector jack, which in turn moves the needle.

United States Patent [191 Anglada June 24, 1975 KNITTING MACHINES [76] Inventor: Norberto Puig Anglada, Puigblanch St. Nr. 22, Mataro, Barcelona, Spain [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 426,548

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 190,115, Oct. 18,

1971, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application PriorityData Nov. 25, 1970 Spain 386160 [52] US. Cl. 66/50 R; 66/50 X [511' Int. Cl D04b 15/68 [58] Field of Search 66/50 R, 36 A, 36 B, 50 B, 66/75, 25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,164,118 6/1939 McAdams 66/50 X 2,740,277 4/1956 Lombardi 66/50 R 3,512,377 5/1970 Widdowson ct a1. 66/50 R 3,771,326 11/1973 Farmer et al. 66/50 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 28,439 5/1964 Germany 66/50 R 1,005,522 9/1965 United Kingdom 66/50 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS No. 9, pp. 7044.

Primary ExaminerWm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodhams, Blanchard and Flynn 57] ABSTRACT An improved needle selection mechanism for use on a circular knitting machine. The selection mechanism includes an elongated resiliently flexible selector member positioned within an elongated slot formed on the cylinder housing. The lower end of the selector member is fixedly mounted to the cylinder and the upper end of the selector member is disposed for moving an intermediate selector jack which coacts with a needle. The resilient selector member has a projection located intermediate its ends and positioned for pivotally supporting thereon an elongated selector jack which is disposed within the slot in close proximity to the selector member. The selector jack is retained adjacent its opposite ends by a pair of elastic ringlike springs which extend around the cylinder. The selector jack has teeth projecting sidewardly therefrom and disposed substantially throughout the complete length of the jack, which teeth are positioned for engagement by selected pattern cams, whereby the cams act on the selector jack and pivot same inwardly about one of the springs. This causes a corresponding pushing on the projection so that the selector member is resiliently moved, whereby the free end thereof causes a corresponding movement of the intermediate selector jack, which in turn moves the needle.

KNITTING MACHINES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 190,115, filed Oct. 18, 1971, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This inventidn relates to an improved needle selector mechanism for a knitting machine and, in particular, to

an improved selector mechanism for controlling the pattern selection of the needles of a circular knitting machine,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a substantial length which has resulted in the cylinder of the knitting machine also being of substantial length.

This substantially increases the overall height of the knitting machine and likewise substantially increases the cost of the machine. Further, the length and number of links involved in these mechanisms results in substantial inertia during the transmission of movement from the pattern cam arrangement to the needles. This factor, coupled with the substantial increase in the overall height of the machine caused by these mechanisms, has thus resulted in the known machines possessing undesirable structural and'operational characteristics. I I i Accordingly, itfis an object of the present invention to provide an improved needle selection mechanism particularly adapted for use with a circular knitting machine for overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages. Particularly, it is an object of the present, invention to provide; 1 v

1. An improved needle selection mechanism, as aforesaid, which substantially reduces the overall length of the selection mechanism and thus greatly reduces the overall height of the knitting machine.

2. A selection mechanism. as aforesaid; whichsubstantially reduces the length of the individu'al'selection jacks to thus reduce theexternal forces imposed on the jacks. L l I I I 3. A selection mechanism, as aforesaid, which substantially reduces the cost of'the machine.

4. A selection mechanism, as aforesaid, which results in a very exact and precise movement of'theneedles while substantially minimizing the inertia possessed by the mechanism.

Other objects and purposes of the present invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with devices of this type upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. illustrates therein a longitudinal sectional view through the cylinder of a knitting machine and showing a conventional needle selection mechanism.

FIG. 2is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrating therein the improved needle selection mechanism of the present invention.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only. For example, thewords upwardly, downwardly, rightwardly and leftwardly will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words inwardly and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the machine and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and purposes of the present invention are met by providing a needle selection mechanism which includes a selection linkage positioned within an elongated slot formed in the cylinder of the knitting machine, which linkage is disposed below the needle and is positioned for coaction with a pattern cam arrangement which is positioned externally of'and adjacent to the cylinder. The selector linkage includes a selector member which comprises an elongated resilient rodlike member which is fixed to the cylinder adjacent its lower end and has its upper free end positioned for engagement with a motion transmitting member which is designed for controlling the activation of the respective needle. The resilient selector member has a projection located between the ends thereof, which projection pivotally supports an elongated selector jack disposed within the slot in close proximity to the selector member. The selector jack has a center portion thereof pivotally supported on the projection, with the opposite ends of the selector jack being supported on the cylinder by a pair of ringlike springs which surround the cylinder and additionally function as pivots for enabling either end of the selector jack to be swung inwardly toward the selector member. The pattern cam arrangement is positioned externally of the cylinder and has'selected cams disposed for coacting with teeth formed on the selector jack for activating same about either end thereof, which jack .then pushes against the selector member to cause resilient deflection thereof, thereby activating theremainder of the selector linkage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION -mally maintained in engagement with a stationary supporting ring or member 16 which is positioned in surrounding relationship to the rotatable cylinder 11. A needle selector mechanism 17 is disposed within the slot 12 beneath the needle 13 for causing selective upward movement of the needle 13 so that the butt 14 thereof is moved upwardly away from the support ring 16, thus causing the butt 14 to be positioned at an elevation so that it will be engaged by means of a needle raising cam (not shown) to cause further upward raising of the needle when a desired knitting operation is to be performed utilizing the needle in question.

The needle selector mechanism 17 includes an elongated substantially rigid selector jack 18 positioned within the slot 12 and extending longitudinally thereof. The jack. 18, in a conventional manner, is provided with a plurality of teeth or lugs 19 projecting transversely from one side thereof, which teeth 19 are disposed within a row and extend over only a fraction of the overall length of the jack 18.

The lower end 21 of the jack 18 is pivotally supported on the cylinder 11, said lower end 21 being positioned within the lower end of the slot 12 and maintained in pivotal relations relative to the cylinder 11 by means of a looplike garter spring 22 which extends around the cylinder 11 and is disposed within a small circumferentially extending slot which is formed in the periphery of the cylinder 11 and in the lower ends 21 of the jacks 18. A similar ringlike garter spring 23 extends around the cylinder 11 and coacts with the upper end of the jack 18 for retaining the jack within the groove 12.

The upper end of the jack 18 is maintained within the groove 12 in spaced relationship from the bottom wall of the groove and is provided with an upwardly project- .ingportion 24 which is maintained in engagement with a downwardly projecting finger 26 formed on an intermediate motion transmitting lever 27.

The lever 27 is positioned within the slot 12 and is pivotally supported relative to the cylinder 11 by a looplike garter spring 28 extending around the cylinder and disposed within a notch formed in the lever 27intermediate the ends thereof. The spring 28 maintains the lever 27 within the slot 12 so that a substantially V- shaped cam surface 29 as formed on the intermediate portion of the lever 27 is maintained in rocking engagement with a projection 31 formed on the needle cylinder 11. I

The upper end of the lever 27 has a forklike projection 32 defining a slot 33 into which extends the lower projecting end 34 of an intermediate motion transmit ting jack 36. The jack 36, which is also disposed within the slot 12, has an enlarged foot or flange 37 on the upper end thereof which is positioned for abutting engagement with the lower end 38 of the needle 13 for controlling the raising and lowering of the needle between an upper raised position wherein the needle is disposed for coaction with suitable cams to, permit knitting, and a lowered position wherein the needle is maintained in an inactive nonknitting position. The upper foot 37 is confined between the surrounding ring 16 and the cylinder 11 so as to permit upward and downward slidable movement of the -jack 36 while at the same time enabling the jack 36 to pivot about the foot 37. The jack 36 also has a butt or'foot 39 projecting transversely therefrom, which butt 39 is located intermediate the ends of the jack 36 and is disposed for coaction with a suitablecam 41 when the jack 36 is pivotally swung outwardly into its outermost position. The cam 41 is positioned closely adjacent the periphery of the cylinder 11 and is stationarily mounted so that the cylinder can thus freely rotate therepast. The cam 41 is designed to coact with the foot 39 to cause raising of the jack 36 when the jack is in its outer' operative position wherein-the butt 39 engages the cam 41.

To activate the needle selection mechanism 17, a conventional pattern control device 42 is disposed adjacent the periphery of the cylinder 11, the control device 42 being disposed so as to coact with the selector jacks 18 as the cylinder 11 rotates past the pattern control device 42. The, pattern control device 42 specifically includes, in the illustrated embodiment, a stationary housing 43 which has a plurality of projecting bodies 44 mounted thereon, which bodies in theillustrated embodiment comprise platelike cams or tongues positioned for engaging selected lugs or teeth 19 formed on the selector jack 18. The tongues or cams 44, in a conventional manner, can be suitably positioned to cause selected actuation of the jack 18 according to the desired knitting pattern.

In operation, the cam 44 contacts a lug 19 associated with the selector jack 18, causing the jack 18 to be pivotally rocked inwardly about the spring 22 into the groove 12. This causes the projection 24 to move inwardly, thus resulting in a corresponding pivotal movement of the motion transmitting lever 27 (which movement of lever 27 is in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1). The movement of lever 27 causes an outward swinging movement of the forklike end 32 thereof, which in turn causes the intermediate motion transmitting jack 36 to also be swung outwardly about the foot 37 so that the butt 39 moves into overlapping engagement with the cam 41. Further rotation of the cylinder 11 relative to the surrounding cam 41 results in the cam 41 moving the jack 36 upwardly, which in turn moves the needle 13 upwardly so that the butt 14 thereof is moved away from the supporting ring 16. This results in the butt 14 being spaced upwardly so that, upon further rotation of the needle cylinder relative to the surrounding cams, the butt 14 will in a conventional manner engage suitable cams (not shown) so as to move the needle 13 upwardly to permit performance of a desired knitting operation.

Considering now the improved needle selector mechanism of the present invention, same is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein there is shown a needle cylinder 11' having grooves 12' thereon which slidably receive therein conventional needles 13, which needles in turn are controlled by means of the selector mechanism 17. Since'many of the parts illustrated in FIG. 2 are structurally and functionally identical to the corresponding parts illustrated in FIG. 1, the parts illustrated in FIG. 2 will .be identified by the same reference numeral uti- ;lized to identify the corresponding parts in FIG. 1 but with a prime added thereto. Further. the following description of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2 will be limited solely to a description of the improved structure of the present invention since the remaining elements associated with the overall linkage in FIG. 2 are structurally and functionally identical to the corresponding parts in FIG. 1 and thus further description of same is not believed necessary.

I The selector mechanism 17' includes an elongated selector jack member 51 which has hooked end portions 52 and 53 formed on the opposite ends thereof, which result in the formation of grooves or notches which receive therein looplike springs 54 and 56, which springs are alsopositioned within suitable grooves or notches formed in the outer periphery of the cylinder 11 and extend therearound. The springs 54 and 56,

which engage the oppositeends of the jack 51, thus maintain the jack 51 within the slot 12 while at the same time enabling each end of the jack to respectively pivot about the other end due to the support of same on the respective spring. I

The jack 51 is also provided with a plurality of transversely extending teeth or lugs 57 formed. thereon, which lugs are disposed within a row extending throughout substantially the complete length of the jack 51. The lugs 57, as illustrated in-FIG. 2, extend from the upper end of'the jack toward the midpoint 58 of the jack, with the lugs being of progressively decreasing length or height as they approach the midpoint 58. Similarly, the lugs 57 also extend from the lower end of the jacks to the midpoint 58, the lugs again progressively decreasing in length or height asthey. extend from the lower end toward the midpoint 58. The length of the lugs 57 thus progressively increase as they are positioned further away'from the midpoint 58, which midpoint 58 functions as the support and pivot point for the jack 51 as explained below. 7

The jack 51 is supported on an elongated selector control member 61 which is positioned within the slot 12 and is disposed in close proximity to (that is, directly behind) the selector jack 51. The control member 61 has a projection or protuberance 62 located between the ends thereof, which projection is located substantially midway between the ends in the illustrated embodiment. The projection 62, which in the illustrated embodiment has a convex configuration, is maintained in bearing engagement with the rear surface of the jack 51 so as to maintain the jack in engagement-with the springs 54 and 56, and at the same time the projection 62 functions as a pivot point for the jack The lower end 63 of the jack 61 is positioned within the lower end. of the slot 12' and is fixedly and securely anchored relative to the cylinder 11'. For this purpose, a clamping ring64 encircles and is fixedly mounted on the cylinder 11 and .has a locking .projection 66 thereon which extends-into a corresponding notch on the lower end 63 0f the control member 61 so that the lower end 63 is fixedly and stationarily clamped relative to the cylinder 11". However, the remainder of the control member 61 as it projects upwardly from the lower anchored end 63 is spaced away from the bottom wall of the slot 12 so as to be movable relative to the cylinder 11 in a direction toward and away from the bottom wall of the slot 12'. For this purpose, the con-.

During the functioning of the improved selector mechanism of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the earns 44 contact the lugs 57 during the rotation of the cylinder. thereby imposing a pushing force on the jack 51 which causes it to be moved inwardly into the slot 12. If contact with a lug 57 occurs between the midpoint 58 and the upper end of the jack, then the jack 51 will pivot about the spring 56 with the midpoint 58 being moved inwardly which, due to its engagement with the projection 62, causes a resilient deflection of the control member 61 so that the upper projecting end 67 is similarly displaced, thus resulting in movement of the lever 27' and of the upper jack 36 and the needle 13'. On the other hand, if contact'with a lug 57 occurs between the midpoint 58 and the lower end of the jack, then the jack 51 will pivot into the slot about the upper spring 54, thus causing a corresponding resilient deflection of the control member 61 in the causes it to return to its original position, which in turn causes a corresponding return movement of the jack 51 so that same again is moved into the position wherein it engages both of the springs 54 and 56. Further, due to the decrease in length or height of the teeth 57 from the opposite free ends of the jack toward the midpoint 58 thereof, the pivotal displacement of the jack 51 about one of the springs 54 and 56 is substantially of the same magnitude, irrespective of whether the jack is contacted adjacent the midpoint 58 or adjacent one of the ends thereof. 1

Thus, the selector mechanism of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2 in comparison to FIG. 1, results in a substantial reduction in the height of the selector mechanism and in the resulting cylinder since the jack 51 can be provided with a minimum length since the lugs 57 extend over substantially the complete ,length of the jack. Thisis clearly in contrast to the extremely long jack 18 illustrated in FIG. 1,. which jack can only have the lugs-over a portion of the length thereof so as to result in the desired displacement of the upper end of the jack. On the other hand, the magnitude of the movement of the jack in the present'invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is transmitted to the midpoint of the control element 61, which due to the leverlike ratio results in the displacement of the jack as imposed at the projection 62 being substantially amplified so as to result in the desired magnitude of movement of the free end 67. Thus, the desired displacement of the lever 27' is produced by positioning the jack 51 and control element 61 adjacent and substantially parallel to one another in such a manner that the displacement of the jack is multipliedor amplified to provide the desired displacement of the projecting end 67. The desired magnitudeof displacement at the end 67'is thus provided by the mechanism of the present invention, while at the same time permitting the overall height of the mechanism to be greatly reduced.

While the present invention discloses the control element 61 as having the projection 62 thereon, it will be appreciated that the projection 62 could be provided on the jack 51 if desired.

Thus, the present invention substantially reduces the overall height of the cylinder and of the selector mechanism, particularly the main selector jack which, due to smaller dimensions, has substantially reduced inertia, whereby higher velocity in the circular movement of the machine can be achieved while at the same time permitting more precision in the movement of the free end 67 of the control element 61 which, due to a false parallelism, exerts a slight pressure through the protuberance 62 on the jack 51 so that the jack 51 and control element 62 always remain in contact with one another.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized'that variation or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement ofparts, lie within the Scope of the present invention. The embodiments of the invention in'which an exclusive property or priviledge is claimed are defined as follows: i

1. In a circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder housing having a plurality of elongated slots formed therein andextending longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of pattern control linkages associated with said slots for controlling the :knitting pattern of said machine, the improvement wherein each of said linkages includes: 7

an elongated rodlike control element formed as an elongated resiliently flexible member and disposed within andqextending substantially longitudinally along a respective slot, one end of said flexible member being fixedly and stationarily anchored relative to saidcylinder housing, the remainder of said flexible member being spaced from the bottom wall of said slot whereby the extremity of said flexible member adjacent the other end thereof is freely angularly displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall;

- an elongated selector jack member positioned within said slotand spaced throughout the length thereof from the bottom wall of said slot, said jack member having hook meanson the opposite ends thereof; projection means fixedly mounted on one of said members intermediate the ends thereof and projecting transversely toward the other of said members, the other of said members having an intermediate portion thereof disposed in bearing engagement with said projection means; r pivot means mounting said selector jack member on said cylinder housing for permitting said jack member to pivotally swing about either end thereof for causing displacement of the extremity of said flexible member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said slot in response to an external pushing force imposed on said selector jack member, said pivot means including a pair of pivot members mounted on said cylinder housing, one of said pivot members being engaged with each of said hook means; and said selector jack member'having lug means disposed for actuation by an external pattern control projection, whereby a pushing force exerted on said selector jack member adjacent one end thereof is translated to said flexible member due to pivoting of said jack member about the other end thereof,

and whereby a pushing force exerted on said select'orjack member adjacent said other end thereof is translated to said flexible member due to pivoting of said jack member about said one end thereof.

.2. .A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said pivot members each comprise a looplike ring mounted on and surrounding said cylinder housing.

3 A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said pivot members comprises a resilientlooplike spring mounted on and. surrounding said cylinder housing.

4. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member has a length greater than the length of said selector jack member, and wherein said selector jack member is disposedadjacent and substantially parallel to said flexible member and has the ends thereof spaced inwardly from the adjacent ends of said flexible member.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said lug means as formed on said selector jack member includes a plurality of transversely projecting lugs formed on said jack member and disposed within a row extending longitudinally of said jack member, said row of lugs extending throughout substantially the complete length of said jack member, said lugs projectingoutwardly from one side of said jack member, and said projection means being disposed adjacent the other side of said jack member. 7

6. A knitting machine according to claim 5, wherein adjacent lugs on said selector jack are of progressively decreasing length as they project inwardly from the opposite ends of the jack member toward the intermediate portion thereof. 7

7 A knitting machine according to claim 6,'wherein said flexible member has a length greater than the length of said selector jack member, wherein said selector jack member is disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to said. flexible member and has the ends thereof spaced inwardly from the adjacent ends of said flexible member, and wherein each of said pivot members comprises a looplike resilient springmounted on and surrounding said cylinder housing and pivotally supporting a respective end of said selector jack member associated with each slot. 

1. In a circular knitting machine comprising a cylinder housing having a plurality of elongated slots formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of pattern control linkages associated with said slots for controlling the knitting pattern of said machine, the improvement wherein each of said linkages includes: an elongated rodlike control element formed as an elongated resiliently flexible member and disposed within and extending substantially longitudinally along a respective slot, one end of said flexible member being fixedly and stationarily anchored relative to said cylinder housing, the remainder of said flexible member being spaced from the bottom wall of said slot whereby the extremity of said flexible member adjacent the other end thereof is freely angularly displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom wall; an elongated selector jack member positioned within said slot and spaced throughout the length thereof from the bottom wall of said slot, said jack member having hook means on the opposite ends thereof; projection means fixedly mounted on one of said members intermediate the ends thereof and projecting transversely toward the other of said members, the other of said members having an intermediate portion thereof disposed in bearing engagement with said projection means; pivot means mounting said selector jack member on said cylinder housing fOr permitting said jack member to pivotally swing about either end thereof for causing displacement of the extremity of said flexible member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said slot in response to an external pushing force imposed on said selector jack member, said pivot means including a pair of pivot members mounted on said cylinder housing, one of said pivot members being engaged with each of said hook means; and said selector jack member having lug means disposed for actuation by an external pattern control projection, whereby a pushing force exerted on said selector jack member adjacent one end thereof is translated to said flexible member due to pivoting of said jack member about the other end thereof, and whereby a pushing force exerted on said selector jack member adjacent said other end thereof is translated to said flexible member due to pivoting of said jack member about said one end thereof.
 2. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said pivot members each comprise a looplike ring mounted on and surrounding said cylinder housing.
 3. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said pivot members comprises a resilient looplike spring mounted on and surrounding said cylinder housing.
 4. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member has a length greater than the length of said selector jack member, and wherein said selector jack member is disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to said flexible member and has the ends thereof spaced inwardly from the adjacent ends of said flexible member.
 5. A knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein said lug means as formed on said selector jack member includes a plurality of transversely projecting lugs formed on said jack member and disposed within a row extending longitudinally of said jack member, said row of lugs extending throughout substantially the complete length of said jack member, said lugs projecting outwardly from one side of said jack member, and said projection means being disposed adjacent the other side of said jack member.
 6. A knitting machine according to claim 5, wherein adjacent lugs on said selector jack are of progressively decreasing length as they project inwardly from the opposite ends of the jack member toward the intermediate portion thereof.
 7. A knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein said flexible member has a length greater than the length of said selector jack member, wherein said selector jack member is disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to said flexible member and has the ends thereof spaced inwardly from the adjacent ends of said flexible member, and wherein each of said pivot members comprises a looplike resilient spring mounted on and surrounding said cylinder housing and pivotally supporting a respective end of said selector jack member associated with each slot. 